Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Cillian Xavier’s Girlfriend?
But ironically, the other party seemed completely unaware of their own beauty.
This only added a touch of purity to her stunning looks.
Ivy Bond used to think she was quite pretty, and in Aethelgard, she had many admirers. Yet upon seeing this girl, she felt a tinge of self-doubt arise within her.
However, after being stunned by the woman for a few seconds, Ivy quickly realized that this must be the person Cillian Xavier was supposed to pick up.
She originally thought it would be someone around the same age as Ms. Grant, but she never expected the person to be about her age.
Inexplicably, a sense of apprehension towards Ashley Shaw welled up in her heart.
Whether it was a woman’s sixth sense or that Ashley Shaw was dangerously beautiful, her mood inexplicably soured.
Ivy Bond instinctively looked at Cillian Xavier and saw a quick flash of brightness in his eyes.
She studied acting, and the school also taught micro-expression psychology, so although it passed by like a meteor, Ivy Bond captured it precisely.
She roughly guessed what that flash of light might mean.
Isn’t this woman a friend of Ms. Grant? Why does Archie Xavier seem...
Ivy forced herself to stop overthinking, but her heart couldn’t suppress its panic.
Only to hear that woman say, "Please take us along. I’m not sure if Ms. Grant mentioned, there are two of us."
Cillian Xavier nodded expressionlessly, "Mm, get in the car."
"Okay."
Ashley Shaw didn’t say much, opening the back car door and getting in.
As Warren Prescott’s wife in her previous life, she knew a thing or two about cars. This one seemed to be worth over twenty million; Cillian Xavier always kept a low profile, and it was her first time seeing him drive such an expensive car.
So when she knocked on the car window earlier, she just wanted to confirm if it was really Cillian Xavier’s car.
Indeed, it was.
How strange, she felt that Cillian Xavier had changed a lot over the past few days.
Very soon, Ariana Grant also got in.
Compared to Warren Prescott, Ariana was much more relaxed in front of Cillian Xavier.
As she lifted her hand to say hello, she caught sight of Ivy Bond in the front passenger seat.
Ivy also glanced back.
Their eyes met, and Ariana spoke first, "Who might this be?"
"A friend’s sister," Cillian said while starting the car.
But the roar of the expensive sports car’s engine as it started covered Cillian’s words, so neither Ashley nor Ariana heard clearly, but they were too embarrassed to ask again.
The two of them simultaneously greeted Ivy Bond warmly.
"Hello."
"Hi there."
Ivy wanted to say "she’s not good," but she turned her head and forced a smile, "Hello. Are you... Ms. Grant’s friends?"
"Yeah, indeed," Ariana introduced herself with familiarity, "Ashley used to work part-time at Ms. Grant’s store; I often went there to eat and drink for free."
A trace of light mockery and relaxation quickly crossed Ivy’s eyes.
So she’s a worker, huh.
Then she was relieved.
Ivy’s gaze towards Ashley quickly softened from its initial sharpness.
As the car started moving, the interior light dimmed automatically, highlighting Ashley’s exquisite features even more.
"Is your name Ashley?" Ivy initiated the conversation.
"Mm, hello, my surname is Shaw, Ashley Shaw."
"Ivy Bond." Ivy introduced herself while extending her hand towards Ashley.
The two shook hands, and Ashley politely complimented, "A lotus flower, blossoming more than Ivy Bond, your name is really beautiful."
Ivy’s smile became somewhat faint.
A mere worker, showing off her literary skills?
Or does she think she has nothing else to praise, so she complimented her name?
In any case, she didn’t like the way Ashley talked.
"My parents picked it randomly, haha."
After saying that, she quickly turned her head.
Earlier she was intimidated by Ashley’s beauty; now, she wasn’t afraid anymore. Being wary of someone working in a pastry shop would be giving her too much credit.
She simply didn’t like Ashley, plain and simple.
Ashley noticed the hostility in Ivy’s eyes. Although she didn’t know where it came from, she wisely chose not to continue speaking to her.
Just as she was about to send Ms. Grant a message to say they had boarded the car, her sleeve was suddenly tugged by Ariana next to her.
She instinctively looked at Ariana, who winked at the front passenger seat and then nodded towards Cillian in the driver’s seat.
The meaning was clear: Ariana was asking her what was the relationship between Cillian and Ivy.
Ashley shrugged, indicating she didn’t know.
Ariana immediately mouthed: Doesn’t he like you?
"..." Ashley looked helpless.
She wanted to say: Liking someone is Cillian’s freedom, and disliking someone is also his freedom; she had no right to interfere.
But since they were in the car, it wasn’t convenient to say these things. She made a "pause" gesture to Ariana, signaling her to stop talking and sit quietly.
The streets were empty at night, and in less than half an hour, they arrived at the Xavier Family’s residence.
Cillian stopped the car at the entrance, letting them get out first while he went to park.
Ivy was the first to get out, directly running towards the Xavier’s main gate.
Ariana shot another glance at Ashley: She seems familiar with this place.
Ashley shrugged again.
Not her concern.
Once Cillian’s car was parked in the garage, Ariana could finally speak openly.
"Hey, Ashley, that girl isn’t Cillian’s girlfriend, is she?"
"I don’t know. I know as much as you do. Besides, don’t worry about them. It’s not good if someone hears us. Let’s go inside."
Ariana quickly hooked her arm.
When they entered, they saw Ivy acting all affectionate and pretending to be cute with Mr. and Mrs. Xavier.
"Studying acting is really exhausting. My teacher is super strict..."
Mrs. Xavier replied indulgently, "If it’s tiring, then stop. Change your major."
Mr. Xavier looked disapprovingly.
"Can’t stand this bit of hardship? How will you be an actress in the future? Since you chose this major, don’t give up easily."
Though he was scolding, the warmth in his eyes was unmistakable.
Ashley waited for them to finish before greeting them, "Hello, Uncle and Auntie. We’re friends with Ms. Grant."
Only then did they notice them.
"Brooke is in the first room on the second floor. You can go find her," Mrs. Xavier spoke in a polite yet distant tone, with a trace of complexity in her eyes.
"Okay, Auntie."
Ashley didn’t linger and pulled Ariana upstairs.
As they walked up, they overheard Ivy complaining, "This time when I came back, Archie didn’t seem to want to talk to me much..."
"Impossible! Cillian might just be a bit tired lately."
"Yeah, and you haven’t seen each other in a while. You’ve both grown up, so it’s normal to feel a bit distant. It’ll be fine once you two go abroad together."
They couldn’t hear the rest.
Once they reached the second floor, Ariana whispered, "Ashley, did you hear that? Cillian seems to be going abroad with Ivy."
"I heard."
"What are your thoughts?"